06/10/2009
MARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
June 10, 2009
Present: Tom Calhoun Board Member
Donald O. McFarland Board Member
David J. Napoli Board Member
Eric D. Spaulding Board Member
Absent: Tim Trager Chair
F. David Hemerick Board Member
Paul E. Lightfoot Board Member
Also Present: William Morris Marine & Aviation Department Director
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
3 – Minutes Approval
– January 14, 2009
Member McFarland moved to approve the minutes of the Marine Advisory Board
meeting of January 14, 2009, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4 – Old Business
4.1 Downtown Boat Slips
Marine & Aviation Department Director Bill Morris said no citizen comments were
submitted during the County administration hearing process regarding the downtown boat slips.
On June 2, 2009, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously passed the plan. A 30-day
waiting period follows; no protests have been filed. The City awaits ACOE (US Army Corps of
Engineers) and FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) permits. The State
indicated the grant is in jeopardy unless the City obtains the permits by June 30, 2009. Staff is
working to expedite issuance.
Deposits have reserved 17 slips. Staff receives daily inquiries. Slips, which will be
completed by December 2009, will range in size from 30 feet to 55 feet. Modular pieces for the
facility are under construction. Staff is promoting the docks and Marina at boat shows.
Restrooms at the dock master’s office are scheduled for completion prior to Jazz
Holiday. Staffing the facility 24 hours per day will help manage nearby homeless issues.
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4.2 Marina Occupancy Increase since Rate Decrease
Mr. Morris reported the Marina has attracted new tenants and vacancies have
decreased from 41 to 27 since the City Council adopted monthly rate reductions for residents
from $9.13/foot to $8.51/foot, non-residents from $13.14/foot to $10.33/foot, and commercial by
10%. Transient traffic has increased substantially due to the Marina’s new reservation service,
its advertising efforts, and relationship with BoatUS and Valvtect fuel.
4.3 Dock Reconfiguration
Mr. Morris said four slips at the Marina were reconfigured to accommodate wider boats;
others were combined for catamarans. More slips were set aside for transients.
5 – New Business
5.1 New Lease Tenant at Marina Bait House
Mr. Morris discussed a proposal to construct a parking garage at the Marina. He reported
that Justin Pfaelzer had taken over the lease for the Marina Bait House. Mr. Pfaelzer, a north
beach resident, participates in flats fishing tournaments and wants to focus his business on flats fishing
supplies. In addition to providing bait and tackle, he plans to expand the food business to offer burgers
and cook people’s catch. The lease, which ends September 30, 2009, has a two-year rollover provision.
Due to the bait house’s unique location over the water, it may not be affected by possible construction at
the Marina.
Discussion ensued regarding Mr. Pfaelzer’s enthusiasm for the bait house operation.
5.2 Council Approved Two-Year Rollover of Current Leases with Fixed CPI Increases
Mr. Morris reviewed Marina lease policies and reported that the City Council had
approved two-year rollovers of current leases with fixed CPI (Consumer Price Index) increases.
5.3 Holiday Inn Express on Coronado Drive – Decade Companies Income Prop
Mr. Morris said the CDB (Community Development Board) had approved the application
to construct a Holiday Inn Express on Coronado Drive next to the Marina. He anticipated the
hotel will generate additional customers for the Marina. The hotel’s developer owns the bait
house at the Seminole Boat Ramp.
5.4 ACOE – Channel Shoaling
Mr. Morris said ACOE is responsible for dredging federally marked channels, such as
the Intracoastal Waterway and Marina channel; the City is responsible for dredging the Marina
basin. Staff met with the Coast Guard regarding the approach to the Marina during low tide.
While channels should be at least eight feet deep, the Marina channel is only six feet deep at
high tide due to shoaling. The 2006 survey indicated that sand was encroaching on the
channel. Mr. Morris did not anticipate the dredging project would begin before 2011.
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6 - Agenda for next meeting on September 9, 2009
Presentation of downtown boat slip layout.
Items not on the Agenda
It was questioned why benches and trash receptacles had been removed from the new
waterfront promenade. Mr. Morris will report.
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 a.m.
Chair
Marine Advisory Board
7 - Adjourn
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